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As indicated in the Financial Memorandum accompanying the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill, the cost of the modelling work undertaken by the University of Sheffield was £63,876.75 (inclusive of VAT).

The University of Sheffield''s minimum price research proposal provided an option to attempt to model the impact of minimum pricing on low income groups. The Sheffield proposal acknowledged that the small Scottish sample sizes meant that Scottish consumption and purchasing data may have been supplemented with UK-wide information, or the definition of low income relaxed. The proposal further noted that it was unlikely that price elasticity matrices for low income groups would be Scotland-specific, again due to sample size issues. The value of deriving estimates of the potential impact on low income groups in Scotland based on largely non-Scottish data was considered weak. In addition, the decision not to extend the study to low income groups was informed by the findings from the minimum price research carried out by the University Sheffield study for the Department of Health in England. That research suggested the impact of minimum pricing on moderate drinkers was likely to be limited, at around an extra £6 per year (based on a 40p minimum price).

The cost of updating the University of Sheffield minimum price model is £36,272.25 (inclusive of VAT). The cost reflects the considerable amount of work required to integrate consumption data from the Scottish Health Survey 2008 and the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey 2008, data from the 2008-09 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey, mortality figures and alcohol sales data into the model. These data were not available to the University of Sheffield researchers at the time of the original minimum pricing research.

NHS health boards have indicated that all children aged over six months and under five years have now been offered vaccination against influenza A (H1N1). Health boards have been encouraged to continue to vaccinate any eligible children who come forward for vaccination until 31 March 2010.

The short-life working group has not yet reported. The revised template is, however, broadly complete and the short-life working group will shortly be consulting infection control experts and Patient Focus Public Involvement groups. The purpose of this consultation process is to ensure that the revised HAIRT is suitable for all NHS boards and is structured in a way which can be understood by the general public. It would not be appropriate for me to advise on the content of the revised HAIRT until this important consultation process is complete. The timing for rolling-out the revised template to NHS boards remains as set out in my answer to S3W-29774.

The Scottish Government issued guidance to local authorities on National Eligibility Criteria and Waiting Times for the Personal and Nursing Care of Older People on 28 September 2009.

This guidance delivers on the recommendation arising from Lord Sutherland''s Review of Free Personal and Nursing Care for older people. If a local authority chooses to apply the eligibility criteria framework set out within the guidance to all community care groups, that is a matter solely for that council and is not tied to the agreement between the Scottish Government and council leaders on free personal and nursing care. Councils have been given no encouragement from the Scottish Government to apply the eligibility criteria framework to other community care groups.

The guidance makes it clear that if someone appears to be in need of community care services they should receive a care needs assessment. Local authorities are encouraged to set a low threshold for access to a care needs assessment.

I understand that a full equality impact assessment was completed by Argyll and Bute prior to the council meeting on 11 February where the decision to the phased removal of the local area co-ordinators (LAC) posts was agreed.

No such discussion has taken place with Argyll and Bute Council.

All Scottish local authorities agreed to apply National Eligibility Criteria and Waiting Times for the Personal and Nursing Care of Older People as set out in the guidance issued jointly with COSLA on 28 September 2009.

The guidance on National Eligibility Criteria and Waiting Times for the Personal and Nursing Care of Older People delivers on the recommendation arising from Lord Sutherland''s Review of Free Personal and Nursing Care for older people. If a local authority chooses to apply the eligibility criteria framework set out within the guidance to all community care groups, that is a matter solely for that council and is not tied to the agreement between the Scottish Government and council leaders on free personal and nursing care.

Councils have been given no encouragement from the Scottish Government to apply the eligibility criteria framework to other community care groups.

We have recently identified a chair for the new National Group on Infertility. Final membership of the group will be agreed with the chair, and we will shortly announce details publicly.

The first meeting will take place in April.

The method used to regulate care services is an operational matter for the Care Commission. It is for the commission to evaluate and review its own inspection methodology. As part of the corporate arrangements for public bodies, officials regularly discuss with the commission its regulatory activities, including its approach to inspections.

If you would like more information about how the commission regulates care services you can contact the chief executive:

Mrs Jacquie Roberts

Chief Executive

Care Commission

Compass House

Riverside Drive

DUNDEE

DD1 4NY

T: 01382 207100

E: Jacquie.roberts@carecommission.com.